The Right to Information Act 2005 is one of the most powerful tools in the hands of Indian citizens. It allows any citizen to seek information from a public authority and obtain a reply within thirty days, breaking the culture of secrecy that long surrounded the bureaucracy.
An RTI application can be filed for a fee of just ten rupees, in writing or online through the rtionline.gov.in portal. Citizens have used RTI to expose scams worth thousands of crores, force action on stalled welfare schemes, and obtain copies of their own records that were earlier denied.
However, the law is only as effective as its users. FFYR Human Rights Council regularly conducts RTI training workshops in district headquarters, helping citizens frame focused questions and follow up on first appeals and second appeals before the Information Commission.